Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the Congress party on Monday, stating they possess an inherent habit of abandoning difficult development work, which has severely harmed the Northeast region, particularly Arunachal Pradesh. This observation took place at a rally held at the Indira Gandhi Park in Itanagar, where Modi unveiled development projects valued over Rs 5,100 crore.
Modi emphasized that development in the Northeast cannot solely be managed from Delhi. Recognizing this, he has frequented the region and sent ministers and officials to address local needs, marking over 70 visits to Northeast India himself. He stated, “One inherent habit of Congress is that they never take up development work which is difficult to do; they abandon it. This habit of Congress caused significant harm to Arunachal Pradesh and the entire Northeast. In the hilly and forested areas, where development work was challenging, Congress would declare the regions backward and simply forget them.”
Further enhancing his argument, Modi highlighted the commencement of next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms coinciding with the festive season of Navratri. He claimed these reforms would provide people with a “double bonanza”. Modi said, “Today, next-generation GST reforms have been implemented across the country, and the GST ‘Bachat Utsav’ has begun. During the season of festivals, the people have received a double bonanza.”
Modi also pointed out that the previous Congress government consistently increased taxes, contributing to rising costs of living. “Congress imposed a heavy tax burden on the people, but our government has gradually reduced taxes, giving relief,” he asserted during his speech.
The Prime Minister observed that successive Congress governments ignored the border villages, which led to migration from those areas. He noted the complacency towards Arunachal Pradesh due to its limited representation, having only two Lok Sabha seats. Modi expressed, “When I was given the opportunity to serve the nation in 2014, I resolved to free the country from the mindset of Congress. Our guiding principle is not the number of votes or seats in any state, but ‘nation first’. Our only mantra is ‘Nagrik Devo Bhava’ (the citizen is God).”
Continuing his defense of his government’s approach, Modi stated, “Modi worships those whom no one has ever asked about. That is why Arunachal Pradesh, which was neglected during Congress rule, has since 2014 become a center of developmental priority.”
Highlighting the effectiveness of the BJP-led government, Modi stated that the projects unveiled during the rally symbolize the “double benefits” banner of the “double-engine” government. He revealed that Arunachal Pradesh received Rs 1 lakh crore from the Centre over the last decade, which is an astonishing 16 times more funding compared to what the state received during Congress governance.
This rally and the unveiled projects underscore BJP’s commitment to addressing regional development and enhancing infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas like Arunachal Pradesh. Modi aims to shift the narrative around development in the Northeast and reinforce the BJP’s image as a party that prioritizes effective governance and citizen welfare.
